Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

bb21

Helpless_Warrior wrote: »

ETA: There is no option for Off-peak chelt to peterborough for the times you stated, can't understand why not though seeing as it departs after 9am :question:

Because it is not valid. Cheltenham - Peterborough Route Any Permitted Off-Peak Return is priced by CrossCountry and has restriction code 2V, meaning it's not valid before 0930. Cheltenham - Great Yarmouth Route Not London Off-Peak Return however is priced by East Midlands Trains and has restriction code CG, meaning not valid before 0900.

If you want to catch the 0854 First Great Western service (2M11) and arrive at your destination by 1509, then the suggested itinerary says change at Cheltenham onto the 0912 CrossCountry service (1S33) which means you cannot use the Cheltenham - Peterborough Route Any Permitted Off-Peak Return ticket as it is too early. Yes in this case splitting at Peterborough saves you money, however it unfortunately also put further restrictions on when you can travel.

Schoolboy-error from Livingthedream I think.

cfc1900 wrote: »

Another tip is, when using the National website journey planner, try your journey from the next station on the line. EG a single from Rugby to Stockport is about £28 off peak with a card. It's £10.55 from Coventry, a £2 single fare away.

This technique sometimes work, however in your given example you're not comparing like with like and the conclusion is unfortunately meaningless. The £27.20 Rugby - Stockport fare is a flexible Off-Peak Single, whereas the £10.55 Coventry - Stockport fare is offered as an Advance ticket, with which you must travel on the specific train shown and has very little flexibility. The compatible product form Coventry would have been the flexible Anytime Single at £25.40.

dzug1

lost_mum wrote: »

Hi I am after a cheap return from Manchester Airport to Ramsgate on 9th June return on 12 I can go a day either side of those I am also not bothered about taking a slower route and changing a few times.

Advance singles each way for the complete journey come out at £71

To do this you need to travel late in the day on the 9th and come back on the Monday. Juggling about with dates/times might get a bit cheaper.

The normal off peak return is £92.30. Don't pay more than that

Livingthedream

bb21 wrote: »

Schoolboy-error from Livingthedream I think.

It was an error, but I corrected it here, in fact I even sent the poster a PM.

Livingthedream wrote: »

Strange, don't know what happened there, but try this;

Gloucester to Birmingham NS dep 08:54 arr 09:56 Anytime Return
Birmingham NS to Peterborough dep 10:22 arr 12:16 Off Peak Return
Peterborough to Great Yarmouth dep 12:43 arr 15:09 Off peak Return

Total Return £143.10

And again sorry for not posting back earlier, just seen your edit.:o

A Newbie error on your part bb21, but for the future please read the whole thread before you go around slating someone.

bb21

Ah ha I did wonder that those posts didn't make sense. Yes of course I didn't realise that you'd told him already. Anyhoo the new split was cheaper anyway. My post was more in relation to the fact that the OP didn't understand why it wasn't valid rather than to point out a cheaper alternative. No harm done just ignore me.

lost_mum

dzug1 wrote: »

Advance singles each way for the complete journey come out at £71

To do this you need to travel late in the day on the 9th and come back on the Monday. Juggling about with dates/times might get a bit cheaper.

The normal off peak return is £92.30. Don't pay more than that

Thank you thats what I found may have to put it off for a bit then or change the dates really didnt want to go by coach but looks like I will have to

geordieracer

lost_mum wrote: »

Thank you thats what I found may have to put it off for a bit then or change the dates really didnt want to go by coach but looks like I will have to

Try using http://www.farefinder.virgintrains.co.uk/ for man picc to london singles. And then on south easterns website
http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/ look for the victoria price buster tickets - if they allow them over the weekend(but it may only be for the day and these are cheaper then a london terminals ticket)

Obviously you will have to look for the airport to picc tickets separately and im not really sure if you will save much more then what dzug has suggested but you may do and always worth a try

Babybanana

Can anyone help me find a cheaper fare? I found one from Bristol Temple Meads to Liverpool Lime Street return for £34 altogether. That's also included with the 16-25 railcard too. It's not too bad but I have to buy a ticket from Bristol to Birmingham New Street then to Liverpool. I think that's the best I can find but would like some heads up if anyone can find anything cheaper, if not don't worry about it.

Many thanks

P.S A travel date would be helpful right? :P I'm travelling between 22nd June to 24th June too.

geordieracer

Babybanana wrote: »

Can anyone help me find a cheaper fare? I found one from Bristol Temple Meads to Liverpool Lime Street return for £34 altogether. That's also included with the 16-25 railcard too. It's not too bad but I have to buy a ticket from Bristol to Birmingham New Street then to Liverpool. I think that's the best I can find but would like some heads up if anyone can find anything cheaper, if not don't worry about it.

Many thanks

P.S A travel date would be helpful right? :P I'm travelling between 22nd June to 24th June too.

Thats a very good price for a return as its half the price of a normal off peak return. Ive not checked but i think that will be the best price as thats £17 each way

scimoon

Hi i would be grateful for any help, i'm looking for the cheapest fare for 30/06/11 for 2 people 1 with a 16-25 railcard, travelling from Derby early morning to bristol temple meads returning same day after 17.00
thx

Livingthedream

scimoon wrote: »

Hi i would be grateful for any help, i'm looking for the cheapest fare for 30/06/11 for 2 people 1 with a 16-25 railcard, travelling from Derby early morning to bristol temple meads returning same day after 17.00
thx

Try splitting at Birmingham NS and Cheltenham Spa and if you want to travel early ie start before 09:30 from Derby;

Derby to Birmingham NS Anytime day Return £27.80
Birmingham to Cheltenham Spa Off Peak day Return £34.05 (Not valid until after 09:30 from Birmingham NS)
Cheltenham Spar to Bristol TM Off Peak day Return £12.95
Total return £74.80 2 adults 1x 16-25 Railcard

If you can leave Derby after 10:00 then get a Off Peak Day Return Derby to Birmingham NS for £22.75 instead of the Anytime day return.

All trains must call at the split point stations.